No money to help the Cape's homeless

ORLEANS – For the first time since the 1990s, the Cape’s largest source of housing for homeless people has run out of money at a time when homeless services are in higher demand.

SUSAN MILTON

ORLEANS – For the first time since the 1990s, the Cape’s largest source of housing for homeless people has run out of money to help.

“We have turned away – and this is shameful – we have had to turn away 100 people in the last two months,” Allison Rice vice president of the Housing Assistance Corp. of Cape Cod said earlier today.

The nonprofit company and other homeless-assistance groups are seeing an increased demand for such help as rent subsidies, emergency shelter, food and fuel.

In 2008, HAC distributed $952,000 to prevent homelessness on the Cape and Islands. Through April this year, HAC has already spent $998,000 because of the poor economy, Rice said at a summit about homelessness at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans. She was speaking to about 33 advocates for the homeless who help run programs across the Cape.Today’s event was intended as a legislative breakfast, but all House members were involved at the Statehouse in debate on the state budget, which offers no prospect for housing relief in the year beginning July 1.

The current House budget proposal would cut the $35.8 million budget for rental vouchers by 45 percent, according to executive director Libby Hayes of Homes for Families, a statewide advocacy group for the homeless.

Read more about the lack of money to help the increase in demand on Cape Cod for homeless services in tomorrow's Cape Cod Times.